Weddings & wedding planners
Should you use a wine merchant or a caterer for wedding wine
Most caterers offer a wine list with the meal. This solution is simple, but rarely the most advantageous in terms of quality or price.
Range of selection
A caterer works with a single supplier and offers 5 to 15 references per color. An independent wine merchant works with dozens of winemakers and tailors the selection to the budget and menu.
Margin and final price
The caterer applies a 40 to 100% margin on resold wines. A wine merchant will apply a margin consistent with their retail model, often lower on large quantities.
Advice and personalization
The wine merchant meets with the couple, tastes the wines with them, and adjusts the order to the caterer's actual menu. The caterer offers their wine list without in-depth advice.
Return of unopened bottles
A wine merchant generally takes back unopened bottles after the event. A caterer almost never does.
Coordination with the caterer
Key point to verify: does the caterer accept to serve wine brought by the client? The majority do, sometimes with a corkage fee (€2 to €5 per bottle) which remains lower than the avoided margin.
Frequently asked questions
- Can the caterer refuse wine brought by the client?
- Rarely. Most accept with a corkage fee. This point must be specified in the caterer's contract.
- Who delivers the wine on the day of the event?
- The wine merchant delivers directly to the venue, usually the day before or the morning of the event.
- Who brings the wines to serving temperature?
- The caterer, once the cases are delivered. A precise service plan avoids confusion.